Headwinds & Opportunities
Societal trends and the state of higher education continue to shift due to forces beyond COVID-19. As we prepare to navigate an ever-changing landscape, we need to keep key opportunities and challenges top of mind.
2025 Strategic Plan
St. ÇéÂÂ×ÔÅÄ 2025, the university's current strategic plan, is in its final year of implementation. It was an ambitious yet focused five-year effort designed to propel the university toward a new level of impact. It has guided us to reach higher in serving our students, our ÇéÂÂ×ÔÅÄ and the world.
Now, we are in the midst of preparing for the next five years.
President Rob Vischer appointed a strategic plan working group of faculty and staff that is currently listening to the ÇéÂÂ×ÔÅÄ and gathering feedback. This group will help develop the next five-year strategic plan. A draft plan will be presented to the Board of Trustees for approval and presented to the ÇéÂÂ×ÔÅÄ in May 2025.
Come back to share in the next exciting vision for St. ÇéÂÂ×ÔÅÄ!
Expanding our Impact
St. ÇéÂÂ×ÔÅÄ is at a distinct point in our history – and we are poised to expand our reach across the country and to build a national reputation. Its position as the largest private university in Minnesota, nimble yet comprehensive, gives St. ÇéÂÂ×ÔÅÄ a unique advantage. With keen focus on strategic opportunities, we will not just survive the headwinds, but thrive and grow.
Our 10-year Aspiration
The University of St. ÇéÂÂ×ÔÅÄ will advance to the level of excellence, impact and reputation that distinguishes the top 10 national Catholic universities.
Our Mission
Inspired by Catholic intellectual tradition, the University of St. ÇéÂÂ×ÔÅÄ educates students to be morally responsible leaders who think critically, act wisely and work skillfully to advance the common good.
Our Convictions
- Pursuit of Truth
- Academic Excellence
- Faith and Reason
- Dignity
- Diversity
- Personal Attention
- Gratitude
Guiding Themes
As our ÇéÂÂ×ÔÅÄ came together through the strategic planning process to develop goals for the next five years, the following themes emerged. These will guide our work, helping us remain true to what makes St. ÇéÂÂ×ÔÅÄ unique while empowering us to focus on key ongoing and emerging priorities that will help us thrive.
Ever Press Forward through Innovation
We will innovate, grow and excel in ways that align with our educational mission and vision to provide relevant and continuous learning for Tommie leaders of today and tomorrow.
Build Belonging and Promote Equity
We will become a university characterized by radical hospitality and a shared sense of belonging where all are welcomed as we work to achieve social justice and dismantle inequities of all forms.
Ensure Access, Achievement, and Outcomes for All
We will broaden access to a St. ÇéÂÂ×ÔÅÄ education, ensure all students have equal opportunities to take advantage of the full St. ÇéÂÂ×ÔÅÄ experience and the academic excellence we provide, and connect all students to career opportunities that leverage our powerful Tommie Network.
Lean In to Our Catholic Mission
We will bring the visions of our founder and namesake, our unique charism, and Catholic social teaching fully to life as we encounter the grand challenges of the day, develop principled leaders and contribute to a socially, economically and environmentally sustainable world.
Widen the Circle of Impact
We will make our mark and widen our impact locally, regionally, nationally and globally by becoming a partner of choice and extending an invitation to students, faculty, and staff from near and far to become part of our vision and our work.
Strengthen Culture As We Embrace Change
As we respond to uncertainty and change in the societal and higher education landscapes, we will strengthen our university culture by expressing the values of respect, honesty and transparency, by engaging in open dialogue, and by committing to continued personal and professional growth.
Factors That Shaped the 2025 Strategic Plan
Community Input
The faculty and staff of St. ÇéÂÂ×ÔÅÄ shared their thoughts, contributed ideas, and engaged in ÇéÂÂ×ÔÅÄ conversations around the successes and obstacles of initial draft themes. In addition, feedback was gathered from students and other members of the broader ÇéÂÂ×ÔÅÄ.
Success of the 2020 Strategic Plan
St. ÇéÂÂ×ÔÅÄ 2020 guided the work of the university since 2015 and led to many important accomplishments; many initiatives that began in the 2020 plan will continue into St. ÇéÂÂ×ÔÅÄ 2025.
Introducing the 2025 Strategic Plan
Building on the vision of our founder to "never stop improving," the 2025 strategic plan is a five-year guide to help St. ÇéÂÂ×ÔÅÄ make a bolder impact. Listen to this high-level overview with President Sullivan's call to the ÇéÂÂ×ÔÅÄ to create and embrace a thriving future for the university.
2025 Strategic Plan News
October 17, 2025
Iran is running out water. But artificial intelligence is providing solutions, according to research from University of St. ÇéÂÂ×ÔÅÄ Professor John Abraham and his Iranian colleagues. They have partnered on 50 studies over six years to provide solutions to address the crisis. Abraham has co-authored two studies with Dr. Farzin Salmasi, a water engineering ÇéÂÂ×ÔÅÄ at… The post Can AI Solve Iran’s Dire Water Crisis?  Global Research Has the Answer appeared first on Newsroom | University of St. ÇéÂÂ×ÔÅÄ.
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October 9, 2025
When Dr. MayKao Y. Hang walked into her first office at the University of St. ÇéÂÂ×ÔÅÄ as founding dean of the Morrison Family College of Health in 2019, the university had a new leader with the right vision and entrepreneurial spirit that shined through from her longtime experience with start-ups, ÇéÂÂ×ÔÅÄ organization and fundraising centered… The post Building a Healthier Future: Morrison Family College of Health Marks Milestones appeared first on Newsroom | University of St. ÇéÂÂ×ÔÅÄ.
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August 22, 2025
Food guilt doesn’t belong at the dinner table nor in the classroom. That’s the philosophy driving Amber Roy’s work at the University of St. ÇéÂÂ×ÔÅÄ. A registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN) and senior clinical ÇéÂÂ×ÔÅÄ, Roy is the nutrition program director for the Department of Health and Exercise Science. She teaches students to focus on overall… The post Why This Nutrition Program Teaches Guilt-Free Eating appeared first on Newsroom | University of St. ÇéÂÂ×ÔÅÄ.
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August 19, 2025
The University of St. ÇéÂÂ×ÔÅÄ ÇéÂÂ×ÔÅÄ mourns the passing of Michael Emmett Dougherty ’66, an alumnus, trustee, visionary philanthropist and founding benefactor of Dougherty Family College (DFC). He died Aug. 10, 2025. Together with his wife Kathy and their family, he established Dougherty Family College at the University of St. ÇéÂÂ×ÔÅÄ to create a pathway… The post In Our Prayers: Michael E. Dougherty ’66 appeared first on Newsroom | University of St. ÇéÂÂ×ÔÅÄ.
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August 7, 2025
The newest graduate degree from the University of St. ÇéÂÂ×ÔÅÄ aims to help combat one of the nation’s most critical shortages of health care professionals. The university’s Morrison Family College of Health is now recruiting for its online Master of Public Health (MPH) program; early application is now open for the first cohort that will… The post St. ÇéÂÂ×ÔÅÄ Launches Online Master of Public Health Degree appeared first on Newsroom | University of St. ÇéÂÂ×ÔÅÄ.